New defense capabilities

Romania’s Defense Minister Mihai Fifor has announced a number of goals for 2018

Romania wants to export armored vehicles to states in the region

Many states in the region are interesting in buying 8x8 armored modular vehicles, which will be manufactured in Bucharest, Defense Minister Mihai Fifor has told Radio Romania. The Romanian official says the authorities want to channel a large share of the 2% GDP defense spending to go to the defense industry. Romania could thus become an important producer and exporter of state-of-the-art weaponry. Mihai Fifor:

“We need to reset our defense industry by means of sustainable investment, so as to become a regional hub for weapons production. One of the major points in Romania’s national program aimed at modernizing the Romanian army refers to the 8x8 multi-role military vehicles, which will be produced at the Bucharest Armory. Many countries in the region are interested in becoming clients of this manufacturing plant, which is very good news”.

The Defense Minister spoke in detail about two other programs meant to modernize Romania’s military. Minister Fifor says the first multi-role corvette made in Romania will become operational within three years. Shipyards in Romania could also manufacture as many as three military submarines. Mihai Fifor:

VM TRACK: “Our submarine warfare program, which provides for building three submarines for the Romanian Navy, is an important step towards boosting the Romanian army’s warfare capabilities. We plan on manufacturing these submarines, as well as the four multi-role corvettes in a Romanian shipyard. In Thursday’s Government session we will pass a Government decree allowing us to launch the multi-role corvette program. The first corvette will be operational within three years”.

A NATO member since 2004, Romania last year allotted 2% of its GDP to defense spending, a policy carried over in 2018 as well, aimed at ensuring the security of this geostrategic region. Mihai Fifor told us more:

VM TRACK: “2018 is the second year in a row when Romania allots 2% of its GDP to defense. Whereas in 2017 we tried to spend this amount as efficiently as possible, in 2018 we need to show maturity in achieving our goals”.

According to the Romanian Defense Minister, 2018 is an important year, as Romania will play host to a NATO summit in July, devoted to security in the Black Sea region.